Iceland is renowned worldwide for its natural environment. Born of ice
and fire the environment excites all of the emotional senses, is awesome
in its power and not easily tamed by even the greatest of modern human
ingenuity. The Jokulsa a Dal is one of these natural features: a
magnificent river rising under the depths of the Bruarjokull, part of
Europe's largest ice cap the Vatnajokull, and reaching the sea at
Heradsandur near Egilsstadir in eastern Iceland. On its journey it runs
wild over flat ground near the glacier, cascades through terraces left
as remnants of past glacial and fluvial history, gouges through a
magnificent canyon, and creates the centrepiece of an intensively farmed
heidi and dalur. The river carries vast quantities of debris: everything
from the finest rock flour to huge boulders, and including the
ubiquitous black sand. These attack the river bed and valley sides to
create unbelievable shapes and patterns. The debris forms terraces for
habitation and for farming past and present, and is the basis for
construction materials along the humanly settled part of its course. At
its mouth, along with its sister river the Lagarflot, the debris
produces both a fertile plain for farmers, wildlife and tourists to
enjoy and creates a barrier against the natural incursions of the sea.

This paper responds to the request from GuÃ°ni Agustsson for advice on
the merger of LanÃ°graeÃ°sla rikisins and Skograekt rikisins to form a
new agency. Following setting out my credentials to contribute, the
paper provides possible reasons for the merger; identifies ways of
measuring success in the shorter and longer terms; discusses the remit
of the agency and the tools required to carry out its functions;
proposes a name; describes the culture required for success; discusses
governance options; identifies structural options; and discusses
delivery locations.

First, he fails to respond to my suggestions on financial
contributions to the Vatnajokull National Park. When I asked both
Landsvirkjun and Alcoa to put forward 2,000 million kroner over 20 years
and an up front payment of 50 million kroner, I expected at least a
considered response. The response by Landsvirkjun talked about small
scale funding of local facilities and ignored the larger challenge.
Alcoa could not even be bothered to respond. It is vital that both
companies are pressed to do so, otherwise they are shirking their
corporate social responsibilities to the people of Iceland.

Following a number of visits to Iceland and many discussions with
colleagues and friends in the Ministries of Environment and of
Agriculture and key government agencies dealing with the environment (Umhverfisstofnun)
and land reclamation (Landgraedsla) and with the current and immediate
past President's of Iceland, I have taken the liberty to set out some
suggestions which I think would help to benefit Icelandâ€™s environment.
I do this because Iceland as a nation is not good at recognising and
celebrating its successes. The nation tends to hide its light under a
bushel, rather than recognise that it punches well above its weight
for such a small country in a northerly latitude.

The people of Iceland face a great challenge. Thjorsarver poses a
vital question: unique beauty and international renown or submergence
beneath a fluctuating water surface for which there are alternate
solutions?

This report provides an assessment of the importance of the
Thjorsarver area of the central highlands of Iceland, comments on
proposals for further hydro-electric power development, and makes
suggestions for the improved protection and greater visitor access.

For many generations societies around the world have regarded wetlands
as a nuisance. The following are widely held perceptions. They are the
source of disease that can become endemic. They are a sink for
pollution. And they are a barrier to the use of water resources for
economic development and social advancement. As a result the proportion
of the Earthâ€™s surface covered by naturally functioning wetlands has
reduced dramatically during the later twentieth century. Now many
countries are faced with water crises and there are water wars between
adjacent nation states.

Proposals for the designation of a National Park for Europeâ€™s
largest ice cap are being developed in Iceland. A committee of the
Althingi is working on the area to the north of the ice cap and a
committee of local representatives is working on the ice cap and the
area to the south. The ideas are at a formative stage and as a frequent
visitor to Iceland and as Chair of the European Region of the IUCN World
Commission on Protected Areas I set out below suggestions for further
consideration before final decisions are made by the government and the
Althingi.